Richard -bennett



(No Model.)

R. BENNETT.

FILE.

No. 554,574. Patented Feb/11, 1896.

Fbyl

INVENTOH ATTORNEYS.

ITNESSES:

AN DREW B GRAHAM. PHOTO-LITHQWAEJINGTDN n c UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD BENNETT, OF NEIHART, MONTANA.

* FILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,574, dated February 11,1896.

Application filed June 18, 1895- '.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD BENNETT, of Neihart, in the county of Meagher and State of Montana, have invented a new and Improved File, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in files, such as are commonly employed to hold blanks, bills, letters and other papers in condition for ready reference; and the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character of a simple and inexpensive construction which shall be neat in appearance,

.durable, compact and convenient for use.

The invention contemplates certain other novel features of construction and combinations of parts whereby certain important advantages are attained and the file is made better adapted for use than other similar devices heretofore employed, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the file in its closed position, the cover or flap being open. Fig. 2 is a section taken through the file in the plane indicated by line 00 00 in Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 is a section taken through the file at right angles to Fig. 2 in the plane indicated by line y g in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a view showing one of the index-leaves detached.

In the drawings, 1 represents the back of the file, preferably constructed, as seen in Fig. 2, of a series of thin wooden strips secured together and covered with a suitable protectingcovering of fabric or the like, and 3 3 represent the thickened covers of the file, usually hinged to the back, as indicated at 2 in the drawings, by carrying the textile covering thereof over the edges or entire surface of said covers 3.

One of the covers 3 is provided at its front edge, opposite the back 1, with a projecting flexible flap, which may be of cloth, for example, and said flap is adapted to extend across the space between the two covers 3 at the front of the file and to lap over the outer side Serial No. 563,176. on model.)

of the opposite cover, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is provided with two eyelets 5 or equivalent devices at its central part adapted for the passage of an elastic cord 6, the ends of which are tied together to form loops, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 1, adapted to be passed over a hook or other securing device 7 on the opposite cover 3 to that whereto said flap is attached.

At the lower part of each cover 3 and near the ends of said covers eyelets are formed or introduced and are arranged in pairs, the eyelets of the respective covers being correspondingly arranged and adapted when the covers are closed together to coincide. One pair, 8, of these eyelets is located slightly below and outside the other pair of eyelets 9, and through the respective eyelets at each end of each cover is passed an elastic cord or band, the ends of each band being united and arranged to form loops 10 adapted to be passed over hooks or equivalent fastening devices 11 suitably located on respective covers 3. By this arrangement each cord or band is formed into two strands, one strand 12 extending through the outer eyelets, 8, and the other strand13 extending through the inner eyelets, 9, and these strands serve to tie together the two covers and hold the file in its closed position.

Between the covers 3 are held a series of index leaves or pages 15 of dimensions correspondin g generally to those of the covers, but of somewhat less length than said covers, and these index leaves or pages are provided with eyelets or perforations 14: at their opposite ends arranged in position to correspond with each other and with the eyelets 9 in covers 3 to form passages through which extend the strands 13 of the elastic cords or hands uniting the covers, the other strands 12 of said cords being adapted when said index leaves or pages 15 are in place in the file to engage the end edges thereof so as to hold the same securely in position.

The index leaves or sheets 15 are provided at suitable points along their front edges with projecting tabs 16, whereon are printed or otherwise formed index characters, herein shown as numerals, adapted to indicate the papers to be found between the respective sheets in a well-known way, and, as herein shown, alternate sheets of the series of indexleaves 15 are of less width than the remaining sheets, the latter being held between the several strips forming the back 1, as clearly seen at 17 in Fig. 2.

In use the papers to be filed are placed between the seven 1 index leaves or sheets 15, and as the file becomes full the loops at one side and then those at the other may be disengaged from their respective hooks 11, so as to permit the file to be still further filled. At the same time one of the loops of the cord 6 may be disengaged from its hook 7 for the same purpose. Thus it will be seen that said elastic cords and loops are adjustably connected at their ends to the covers.

The elastic cords serve to hold the covers 3 normally in their closed position and also serve to prevent the papers contained in the file fromslipping out from between the leaves when the covers are closed together, since it will be seen that the elastic strands 12 and 13 are carried across the space between the covers in position to engage the edges of said papers. Said strands 12 and 13 of the elastic cordsalso serve to hold the leaves or sheets 15 against movement when the device is closed, and should the eyelets pull or tear out said sheets will still be held in place. Moreover, if desired, any number of additional sheets 15 may be inserted in the file so as to accommodate various purposes by simply untying the ends of the elastic cords and inserting said additional sheets.

From the above description it will be evident that considerable modification may be made in the construction an d arran gement of my improved file without material departure from the spirit of my invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise form of the device as herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1 1. A file comprising a back, covers secured thereto, and provided with eyelets at opposite ends, index-sheets held between said covers, elastic cords extending through said eyelets across the space between the covers in position to engage the index-sheets, loops at the ends of said cords, and hooks on the covers to engage said loops, substantially as set forth.

2. A file comprising a back, covers secured thereto, and provided with eyelets at opposite ends, index-sheets held between said covers and provided with eyelets at opposite ends, registering with the eyelets in said covers, elastic cords extending through the eyelets in the covers and in the index-sheets and having their ends provided with loops, and hooks on the covers to engage the loops at the ends of said elastic cords, substantially as set forth.

3. A file comprising a back, covers secured thereto, and each provided with two eyelets at each end, index-sheets held between saideyelets and provided atcach end with an eyelet registering with oneof the eyelets in the covers, elastic cords passing through the eyelets in the covers and each formed into two strands, one of which extends through the eyelets of the index-sheets, and the other of which extends along the edges of the indexsheets in position to engage the same, and hooks on the covers to engage the ends of the said elastic ends, substantially as set forth.

RICHARD BENNETT.

\Vitnesses:

E. P. BENNETT, E. K. ABBOTT. 

